Management

RT is an autonomous non-profit organization.

Margarita Simonyan

Editor-in-Chief of RT

In 2005, Margarita Simonyan launched RT, Russia’s first round-the-clock, English-language, international TV news channel, which has since expanded to a global TV network providing news, current affairs and documentaries in nine languages, and includes sister multimedia news agency RUPTLY.

Under her helm, RT has extended its reach to more than 800 million TV viewers in over 100 countries around the globe, and is an eleven-time Emmy finalist.

In 2013, Margarita Simonyan also became editor-in-chief of Rossiya Segodnya, an international media group that includes news agency and radio Sputnik, which broadcasts in more than 30 languages.

Margarita began her journalism career at the local TV and radio station in the Russian city of Krasnodar, eventually heading up a regional bureau for Russia’s largest nationwide broadcaster, VGTRK. As a war correspondent, she reported from the Chechen Republic during the Second Chechen War, from the Beslan School Siege, and from Abkhazia, which earned her several journalism awards.

In 2017, Margarita Simonyan was included in the Forbes Magazine list of the world’s most powerful women, more than a dozen spots higher than former US secretary of state and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Margarita has been awarded several national honors of the Russian Federation, including the Order of Alexander Nevsky, the Order ‘For Merit to the Fatherland’ of the 4th class, the Order of Honor, and the Order of Friendship for ‘contribution to the development of domestic television’.

Alexey Nikolov

Managing Director of RT

Since the launch of RT, Russia’s first international, English-language TV news channel in 2005, Alexey Nikolov has been an integral part of the organization in multiple roles, becoming RT’s managing director in 2009. Today, RT is an award-winning, global TV network, providing news, current affairs and documentaries in English, Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Serbian, Chinese, Hindi, and Russian, and includes sister multimedia news agency RUPTLY.

Alexey Nikolov regularly represents RT at major Russian and international forums. He has participated in UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day Conference, the BRICS Media Forum, the General Assembly Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), the Russia-Africa Forum, and other significant events. Between 2016 and 2018, Alexey chaired the Executive Committee of the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB).

Since 2017, Alexey Nikolov has held the position of deputy dean at the Department of Creative Industries of the Higher School of Economics (HSE) – a leading Russian university. He is the head of the Modern Journalism Master’s program.

Alexey’s journalistic pursuits began in the early 1970s. He has worked extensively as a presenter, commentator and producer, covering sports and current affairs, including the Seoul Olympics in 1988, the August Coup of 1991, and the October 1993 Constitutional Crisis in Russia. He was instrumental in launching a new national TV network, REN TV, in 1997.

Alexey has been recognized with several national honors of the Russian Federation, including the Medal of the Order ‘For Merit to the Fatherland’, and the Order of Friendship. He is also a winner of the Russian Union of Journalists’ award ‘For Professional Excellence’, and other industry accolades.